Mandevilla plant named ‘Sunparajapi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Sunparajapi’, characterized by its vining plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; large dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; and large pink-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNPARAJAPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunparajapi’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new freely-branching and viningMandevilla plants with large leaves and numerous large attractiveflowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination inHigashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2006 of a proprietary selection ofMandevilla hybrida identified as code number MH-7, not patented, as thefemale, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevillahybrida identified as code number MH-31, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inHigashiomi, Shiga, Japan in October, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings inHigashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2009 has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunparajapi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sunparajapi’ as a new and distinct Mandevillaplant:

-   -   1. Vining plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Large dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Long flowering period.    -   7. Large pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Mandevilla are not as glossy as        leaves of plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Mandevilla are glossier than        leaves of plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have darker pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the Mandevillahybrida ‘Sunparaoros’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,207. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plantsof the new Mandevilla differed from plants of ‘Sunparaoros’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla had longer lateral branches with        longer internodes than plants of ‘Sunparaoros’.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla had larger leaves than plants of        ‘Sunparaoros’.    -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla had larger flowers than plants        of ‘Sunparaoros’.    -   4. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Sunparaoros’ differed in        flower color as plants of ‘Sunparaoros’ had bright red-colored        flowers.    -   5. Plants of the new Mandevilla had shorter peduncles than        plants of ‘Sunparaoros’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunparajapi’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flower and flower buds of ‘Sunparajapi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the late summer in 15-cmcontainers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and undercultural practices typical of commercial Mandevilla production. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were six months old when thephotographs and detailed description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunparajapi’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla            hybrida identified as code number MH-7, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla            hybrida identified as code number MH-31, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at temperatures            about 23° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About five to six            weeks at temperatures about 23° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; light brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Vining plant habit; vigorous growth            habit; freely branching habit.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 159 cm. Diameter:            About 2.9 mm. Internode length: About 3.6 cm. Strength:            Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, slightly pubescent; with            development, woody. Color, developing: Close to 144A. Color,            woody: Close to 199A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 11 cm.        -   Width.—About 5 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, pubescent        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,            close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137D; venation, close to 144D.        -   Petiole length.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Petiole diameter.—About 2.4 mm.        -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            pubescent.        -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers arranged in            axillary racemes; flowers face mostly outwardly; freely            flowering habit with about two flowers per inflorescence and            about 17 to 25 inflorescences developing per plant during            the flowering season.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about six            weeks after planting; long flowering period, plants flower            continuously from summer to late autumn in Japan.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven to ten days;            flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 13 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 13 cm.        -   Flowers.—Appearance: Salverform; flared trumpet, corolla            fused and five-parted; flowers roughly star-shaped.            Diameter: About 9.8 cm. Depth (length): About 8.4 cm. Throat            diameter: About 2.1 cm. Tube length: About 5 cm. Tube            diameter, mid-section: About 1.1 cm. Tube diameter, base:            About 3.8 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 7.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 cm.            Shape: Lenticular. Color: Towards the apex, close to 65D;            towards the base, close to 65A.        -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a            single whorl and fused towards the base into an elongated            tube. Petal lobe length: About 4 cm. Petal lobe width: About            4.3 cm. Petal lobe shape: Orbicular. Petal lobe apex:            Cuspidate. Petal lobe margin: Entire; undulate. Petal lobe            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny.            Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Tube texture:            Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: Petal lobe, when opening,            upper surface: Close to 73D; towards the margins, close to            73C. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to N66D;            towards the margins, close to 73C. Petal lobe, fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 73C; towards the margins, close to            N66C. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 67C;            towards the margins, close to N66D. Throat: Close to 20A;            towards the base, close to 7B with longitudinal lines, close            to 8D. Tube: Close to 68C; towards the base, close to 145B.        -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a            single whorl, fused at the base; calyx, star-shaped. Sepal            length: About 5.5 mm. Sepal width: About 2.7 mm. Sepal            shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire.            Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Sepal color: When developing, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 145B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 145A;            towards the apex, tinged with close to 173A. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 145B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.7 mm.            Texture: Smooth, slightly pubescent. Aspect: Mostly            outwardly. Color: Close to 138A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Mostly outwardly. Color:            Close to 63A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:            Typically five; filaments fused to corolla; anthers,            connivent. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1.2            mm by 8.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 3D. Pollen amount:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 4D. Pistils: Quantity:            Typically one. Pistil length: About 2.5 cm. Style color:            Close to 145D. Stigma shape: Conical. Stigma color: Close to            145B. Ovary color: Close to 145A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed on plants of the new Mandevilla.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not    been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Mandevilla plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been observed    to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to    about 30° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named‘Sunparajapi’ as illustrated and described.